Tag: 2009 Travels

BIG BIG Trees

Anne Nowell

Sequoia trees are recorded as the largest trees on Earth. These magnificent natural wonders are found ONLY in the Sierra Mountains of California. Elsewhere, there are other gigantic trees known as Redwoods, but the Sequoia grows only in the Sierra Mountains due to specific climate and soil conditions.

The inner core of the tree is protected by the outer layers, therefore, it is possible for a Sequoia to survive fire and other adverse conditions. Indeed, fire is necessary for the sprouting of its seedlings. Research suggests that some Sequoia trees have been growing for over 2000 years.

In the past seven weeks I have hiked among these Giants and can testify to their power and beauty. If trees could talk what stories could be told ? !! Surprisingly most of the other hikers I meet are from other countries.  Please!!  You owe it to yourself and your country to plan a trip to visit these beautiful national heroes!!


Photo Captions:  Please click back and forth for a full view.
#1. At dusk, a charred Sequoia growing on a boulder
#2. Hiking through a Tree Doorway
#3. Friend, Alexis, amid the Giants
#4. Stand of adolescent trees
#5. World’s Largest Tree, General Sherman
#6. Tree and boulder become one!
#7. Heavily burned but still growing
#8. Same tree looking through the burn
#9. Alexis and roots of a fallen tree

Trees Fall in the Forest

Anne Nowell

Camp Far Horizons was founded in 1954. One of the founders, G.V. Hull, was instrumental in helping to develop King’s Canyon in ways that have made this natural wonder more assessible for visitors. Partially as a result of his work, the Theosophical Society was awarded an extended lease on National Park land with provisions to develop and improve said land. The first buildings went up in 1955 , and many of these are still in use due to the skillfulness of Mr. Hull’s construction design.

Upkeep is a continuing consideration for any facility.  Landscaping and building maintenance are key concerns at Far Horizons, which functions as a camp only 3 out of 12 months a year and is heavily snowed in during winter months. Recently at Camp there was the necessity of removal of several large trees. These trees had become diseased by natural causes and were at risk of falling into buildings. In these photos I have captured the process of removing 100 + foot trees, which is not an easy task physically or psychologically. The team of arborist, Joel Bawcum, was exact in their duties and Camp is grateful to them for their expertise.

A famous Biblical quote acknowledges “To Everything There Is a Season”. These majestic trees had many ” seasons”. Moving forward, there is the certainty that many fledgling Camp trees will mature into their times as well.

For a complete view please click back and forth on the photos.

Photo captions:
#1.  Diseased kitchen tree, approximately 100 feet tall
#2.  Limb removal, note proximity to cabins
# 3. Almost done, sawing the base
#4. Dining Room Stump with volunteer beauties!
#5. Diseased tree, minimum 150 feet tall
#6. Note proximity to Sugar Pine Cabin
#7. Joel among the limbs
#8. On top, 100 feet up
#9. No top or limbs
#10. Debris at the base, note notch for felling
#11. Ready to fall
#12. After the fall, now a home for chipmunks

Near the Top of the Sierra’s

Anne Nowell

The hiking in King’s Canyon is superb! There are endless miles of hiking trails; some to lakes or waterfalls, some to the biggest trees on the planet, and others to fabulous view points high above the earth. One such viewpoint is the Buck Rock Lookout Post. At 8,500 feet it is a bit like being in an airplane. The post is used as a lookout for fires and the park employees sleep there. Check out these photos and click back and forth for a larger view. I was clinging to the railing to be sure!!

Photo Captions:
#1  The lookout from ground level; click for full view.
#2  Halfway up the steps
#3  At the railing of the lookout
#4  Close up, check out the bird feeder behind my pigtail.
#5  At 8,500 feet this hummingbird was inches from my camera!
#6  Back at the base with Smokey the Bear, ambassador of fire safety.